Andy Carroll’s penalty box pratfall in front of an empty goal and angry swear-word strop as he was subbed to widespread Toon Army sniggering.

Pepe Reina seeing red with a bonkers butt on James Perch and, finally, King Kenny having a serious senior moment when he wandered on to the pitch and had to be shooed off by an embarrassed Steve Gerrard.

The St James’ Park humiliation made it eight defeats in 2012 for the Reds before yesterday. Their league record since the turn of the year has them marginally above relegation certs Wolves.

They are so far behind leaders Man United that it is almost like they are in a different division.

Liverpool have won the Carling Cup, have an FA Cup semi on Saturday against Everton and a knockout new kit deal – but they are in an absolute mess.

Sadly, Kop legend Dalglish is the man to blame.

He’s an Etch A Sketch manager in the iPad era.

He should take an upstairs role in the summer.

John Aldridge calls his old club a laughing stock – I don’t think they find it very funny in Boston.